Definitions for describe
dɪˈskraɪbde·scribe

Princeton's WordNet(4.67 / 3 votes)Rate this definition:

1. describe, depict, drawverb

   give a description of

   "He drew an elaborate plan of attack"

2. report, describe, accountverb

   to give an account or representation of in words

   "Discreet Italian police described it in a manner typically continental"

3. trace, draw, line, describe, delineateverb

   make a mark or lines on a surface

   "draw a line"; "trace the outline of a figure in the sand"

4. identify, discover, key, key out, distinguish, describe, nameverb

   identify as in botany or biology, for example

Wiktionary(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. describeverb

   To represent in words.

   The feeling is difficult to describe, but not unpleasant.

2. describeverb

   To give rise to a geometrical structure.

3. describeverb

   To scientifically reveal a new species by technically explaining its characteristics and particularly how it differs from other species.

   The fungus was first described by a botanist.

4. Etymology: From descriven, from descrivre, from describo, from de + scribo; see scribe and shrive.

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. To DESCRIBEverb

   Etymology: describo, Latin.

   1. To mark out any thing by the mention of its properties.

   I pray thee, overname them; and as thou nam’st them, I will describe them; and according to my description, level at my affection. William Shakespeare, Merchant of Venice.

   He that writes well in verse will often send his thoughts in search, through all the treasure of words that express any one idea in the same language, that so he may comport with the measures, or the rhyme of the verse which he writes, or with his own most beautiful and vivid sentiments of the thing he describes. Isaac Watts, Improvement of the Mind.

   2. To delineate; to mark out; to trace: as a torch waved about the head describes a circle.3. To distribute into proper heads or divisions.

   Men passed through the land, and described it by cities into seven parts in a book. Jos. xviii. 9.

   4. To define in a lax manner by the promiscuous mention of qualities general and peculiar. See Description.

Webster Dictionary(1.67 / 3 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Describeverb

   to represent by drawing; to draw a plan of; to delineate; to trace or mark out; as, to describe a circle by the compasses; a torch waved about the head in such a way as to describe a circle

2. Describeverb

   to represent by words written or spoken; to give an account of; to make known to others by words or signs; as, the geographer describes countries and cities

3. Describeverb

   to distribute into parts, groups, or classes; to mark off; to class

4. Describeverb

   to use the faculty of describing; to give a description; as, Milton describes with uncommon force and beauty

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(4.50 / 2 votes)Rate this definition:

1. Describe

   dē-skrīb′, v.t. to trace out or delineate: to give an account of.—adj. Describ′able.—n. Describ′er. [L. describĕre—de, down, and scribĕre, scriptum, to write.]

Editors Contribution(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. describe

   To create using words.

   They did describe how they felt and it was great to know they too were also happy and felt very loved.

   
   

   Submitted by MaryC on February 16, 2020  

Matched Categories

1. • Inform
   • Mark

British National Corpus

1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'describe' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #2425

2. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'describe' in Written Corpus Frequency: #2430

3. Verbs Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'describe' in Verbs Frequency: #93

How to pronounce describe?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say describe in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of describe in Chaldean Numerology is: 7

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of describe in Pythagorean Numerology is: 2

Examples of describe in a Sentence

1. Donald Trump:

   OK, a few things here.First, the idea that the fact that Trump would describe a meeting with Comey differently than Comey has isn't perjury -- as Giuliani would like you to believe. It's a.

2. Ralph Baric:

   This is a landmark study that reveals new and unexpected insights into the mechanisms that regulate disease progression and severity following SARS-CoV-2 infection, in addition, we describe a new reverse genetic platform for SARS-CoV-2 allowing us to produce key indicator viruses that will support national vaccine efforts designed to control the spread and severity of this terrible disease.

3. Jake Tapper:

   We're running out of words to describe this era.

4. Tom Robbins:

   Using words to describe magic is like using a screwdriver to cut roast beef.

5. Bridgette Walker:

   Ever since [my children] were babies, I've tried to give them the words to describe what they are feeling, they encounter a million frustrations each day as they try to figure out how to function in a world that is made for adults.

Popularity rank by frequency of use